Charlotte Wang,

Graduates of 2023

Admitted to UCD: University of California, Davis

Article by: Charlotte Wang

Translator: Naisi

Time flies like flowing water, and in the blink of an eye, I stand at the end of three years of high school. Looking back, I am full of gratitude.

If time could be reversed, how could I have imagined three years ago the beautiful life I have today? The dreams that once seemed unreachable like clouds and mist, are blossoming one by one in my life.

Every day spent with my teachers and peers, I deeply believe that I am the luckiest person in the world.

In junior high school, I was often considered a lost cause by my teachers, constantly criticized for my imperfect grades. It seemed my life was confined to the narrow world of the classroom.

Fortunately, my admiration for my sister saved me. My sister was studying for a doctoral degree in anthropology at Rutgers University in the United States. She said to me, "Change your environment, follow your heart's desire, and do what you want to do, learn what you want to learn."

On the eve of the new school term, I had no expectations for high school life and was still afraid. I had many nightmares those days. However, everything changed on the first day of school.

I will always remember that math class. The teacher did not pick up the textbook to start teaching, nor did she ask about my middle school exam results. She only asked each student's name and hobbies.

Later, this teacher became the most important mentor in my high school life.

At the most severe moment of the pandemic, I thought that my crucial A-LEVEL exam would not be able to be held. I doubted whether my hard work of practicing problems every day would be wasted. However, she, as the teaching director, overcame various difficulties to ensure the smooth conduct of my final exam.

She never mentioned this to me, but I learned from other teachers that she had been working all night until three or four in the morning for this exam.

Not only this teacher, but every teacher in the A-level program was full of patience. When I made mistakes, they would always annotate the correct solution next to my errors, allowing me to better understand my mistakes. When I achieved excellent results, they would draw cute little expressions on my paper to encourage me to "grow stronger in adversity". During big breaks, they would even play shuttlecock with the students. These small moments completely rid me of the fear I had for teachers in middle school, allowing me to become more relaxed and confident on the path of learning. They were both teachers and friends to me.

Besides my teachers, my classmates were also the sunshine in my life. They came from all over the country, each with their unique traits and dreams. Some were skilled in literature, penning beautiful sentences and vast oceans of emotions; some were passionate about science, deciphering complex formulas and puzzles; and some excelled in video editing, diligently creating vlogs to document our school life. Each classmate enlightened me in their own way, their enthusiasm, intelligence, and talents continually pushing me forward.

During my time in school with my classmates, I accumulated a string of happy memories, like a radiant string of pearls. During Halloween, we gathered together to enjoy games and board games; at school parties, we worked together to enjoy the charm of fantastic performances; and at New Year's celebrations, we rehearsed and prepared singing performances, offering our youthful passion and rhythm of music. This rich and colorful campus life filled me with gratitude; like a rainbow, they forever shine brilliantly in my memory.

Inspired and influenced by my teachers and classmates, I also expanded many hobbies in my spare time. One experience that I still remember vividly is forming a subtitle group to create subtitles for Japanese variety shows. This small act brought me more friendships and growth. In the process of working closely with friends from all over the world, I deeply realized that distance is not a barrier to communication, but a bond that closely connects our hearts. Currently, I have many fans, and my total views in a niche field have reached 60,000. My efforts have opened the door to the world for many people, and the door to the world is slowly opening for me.

Later, in biology class, when the teacher explained why people have heart attacks, I gained a deeper understanding of the fragility and strength of life. I realized that countless people who suddenly have heart attacks can be saved as long as they receive the correct first aid. This inspired my passion for the first aid industry, and I successfully obtained a first aid certificate from the American Heart Association (AHA). Having this ability makes me feel proud because I know that I have the ability to help others save lives and delay the arrival of death. Although I never hope to actually use this skill, I believe that with this knowledge, I can also become a glimmer of hope in other people's lives.

When I wrote the above experiences into my college application essay, many world-renowned schools extended an "olive branch" to me. However, I deeply know that this is not only because of my excellent grades, but also because of the growth I experienced over the past three years and my positive attitude towards life. These experiences and mental journey are the true portrayal of me becoming a well-rounded individual. They are my unique wealth and the confidence and momentum for me to step into the future.

Whenever I was exhausted, I would stop, recall the efforts of my teachers and classmates, their smiles and encouragements were like a beacon guiding me through the dark. 

Now, at the last moment of my senior year, I pick up my pen, my heart filled with gratitude and determination, to write this article. I believe that no matter what kind of adult I grow into, no matter what my life looks like, I have already obtained the most precious wealth—genuine friendships and the power of growth. This will accompany me for the rest of my life, until forever.